Learn Our Language

This is a headline story right here! It has to be one of the top issues in the country today. I am referring to the "Press two for Spanish" issue. Why is this even an option? If someone wants to become an American badly enough, they should take the initiative to learn the language that is spoken here: English. I mean, does the government not know that by allowing a language barrier to exist inside our country, they are potenially limiting the progression of the country. There should not be a need for any type of translator in our country. How can we be called the top country in the world if the citizens within it are not able to communicate freely? "Press two for Spanish" is also one of the most annoying statements that can be uttered over the phone. Spanish is not the only problem either. It is all the gibberish and nonsense that has to be endured before actually having the opportunity to speak to a customer service officer or telephone operator. I believe that Americans need to keep it simple. Diversity is grand, but when it pertains to the language, there is a problem. I have a simple solution that will unify our country and tear down the language barrier: Learn our language or go home!

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This is... wow, super racist. There is no national language in America for a reason, my dude. We as a country do not value any set of knowledge above another. It's not limiting the country to encourage being multilingual; it's actually propelling us forward. Many of those Spanish-speaking people also speak English, putting them a step ahead of most English-only speakers in the US. Also, if you say "learn our language or go home," you're revealing your anti-immigrant sentiment. Not everyone who s... (more »)

How come when a person from a foreign country comes to America they, in your words, should learn english or go home, but when Americans travel to other countries, they assume and speak to the locals in english? I live in Germany and a lot of U.S. soldiers and their families live here, but many do not learn German. Through your ideology, I could then say if you're an American living in Germany you should learn German or go home. That is absurd.

ok so.... I agree with thisguy223, Dude one thing you should understand about this country, and that is that diversity is a common thing in several parts of this country, some parts not as much, but this country should value its diversity and respect people of all races, even if they're different than you. I live in a city where diversity is everywhere, there's different neighborhoods with a lot different people of different color and social status, I myself am Chinese American, my neighbors ar... (more »)

Maybe you should crack a book man. First of all, this country doesn't even have a real official language, English is just one of the most common. Second, this country is built up of people from all over the world, that's why we're such a diverse country. Most people do try to learn English, and that takes a long time, so in trying to learn the language and become a citizen, they don't always understand what people are saying when trying to help them. Boohoo, you have to occasionally listen to a ... (more »)

White English speaking people immigrated to America and said "Yo we need some English up in here" to people called "NATIVE AMERICANS" who DID NOT know English. English in IS NOT the "official language" bud so stop

I agree with this statement, “If someone wants to become an American badly enough, they should take the initiative to learn the language that is spoken here: English.” It should be mandatory for everyone in America to speak English; however, no one can stop people from coming into the country and speaking Spanish. It is a good thing Spanish speaking people are in America because it helps make us a melting pot.

I agree with the opinion that people should learn English if they want to live in America. You took the words out of my mouth when you said, “If someone wants to become an American badly enough, they should take the initiative to learn the language that is spoken here: English.” This is a great argument and makes a very good point in my opinion.

This is simply disgusting. Do you understand how boring, narrow-minded and oppressive our country would be if we didn't support diversity? Aside from the fact that cultural diversity is just clearly better than a country full of white, English-speaking Americans, do you understand the concept of globalization? We need to be culturally diverse to continue to be a superpower economically and politically. It's as simple as that. And this claim that if they want to come to our country they s... (more »)

Gotta love the people that literally can't comprehend that no, the US is NOT a nation of white English speakers, NO you can't force immigrants to speak English. When you really get down to it, what you SHOULD be complaining about is how white people refuse to use the Native American languages, since this person is so against immigrants.

First of all i don't really find this a comprehensive article as much as it is just a rant fueled by a deep frustration of costumer service operators. Second of all you have to realise that a lot of the poeple going to America are doing it because the conditions in their own country are horrible. I think that they're a little more concerned about their families safety then learning the language. Although it is important to an extent, the statment "learn our language or go home"... (more »)

Although I do agree with you that learning the english language should be important if a person is considering moving or visiting the U.S., I definitely do not agree with your closing statement about "going home" if you do not learn the english language. I do not wish to be rude or negative, but have you considered that even if some people do learn the english language but are hispanic, that they maybe they feel more comfortable speaking to somebody over the phone in their native langu... (more »)

DID you even read this again? I thought that America was supposed to take "your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
What happened to that! If language is a clause in that statement, then America is going downhill more than I thought.

Very interesting opinion, I certainly agree. Immigrants are essentially separate from the rest of society by all these government barriers, but hey obama says we gotta drone Syria so don't worry about it!